Chapter 62: The Tree Wants to Remain Quiet, but the Wind Won’t Stop (2)
Hua Zhi did not say Fourth Aunt was making a fuss over nothing, but Fourth Aunt’s childbirth did not warrant such alarm. The one in trouble was her grandmother.
If it were a minor issue, Old Madam would have suppressed the matter and kept it from her. Since it had been reported to her, the problem was certainly serious. If mishandled, the Hua family could fall into chaos. Given her low seniority, she might struggle to keep everyone in line. It was better to prepare in advance than to have to tear off all pretenses to secure stability.
"Select the best and most useful medicinal herbs sent by my maternal grandmother and deliver them to Fourth Aunt’s room."
"Yes," Ying Chun replied, then asked, "Should any arrangements be made for the Clan school?"
"No need. It’s good for them to experience some turbulence."
"Understood."
Hua Zhi paused but ultimately made no further arrangements. She could not shield them like flowers in a greenhouse—that would never help them achieve anything.
Gu Yanxi observed the entire scene. No matter how panicked the messenger was, Hua Zhi’s expression never changed. Her calmness influenced others, helping them regain their composure. Hua Zhi possessed an incredibly strong heart and could be truly ruthless when necessary.
As for her maid, in such a short time, she had made numerous well-considered arrangements, demonstrating her capability. She was in no way inferior to the female officials in the palace; in some respects, she even surpassed them.
The more he learned about Hua Zhi, the more he marveled at her. It seemed the Hua family’s fortunes were not yet exhausted.
Following the covered corridor, Hua Zhi entered the inner gate and addressed several bowing matrons: "Lock the inner gate and hand me the key."
The four matrons exchanged uneasy glances.
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. This is not a matter of distrust. You must guard this place well and report anything to me immediately."
"Yes."
Taking the key, Hua Zhi quickened her pace inward. As she walked, she asked, "How is Grandmother?"
Chunxiang had been ordered to keep silent and hesitated, not daring to speak.
Hua Zhi understood. "Did Grandmother cough up blood?"
Chunxiang looked at the young mistress in surprise—she had said nothing!
"Speak."
Hua Zhi’s brows furrowed, exuding an intimidating authority. Chunxiang paled, torn between speaking and obeying Old Madam’s command. As a servant in Old Madam’s quarters, she dared not defy her mistress.
Ying Chun, witnessing this, felt a sense of admiration for Chunxiang. If someone pressured her to reveal her young mistress’s affairs, she would also refuse. But the situation was reversed, so she naturally had to assist her own young mistress.
Exchanging a glance with her young mistress, Hua Zhi nodded slightly and walked ahead, anxious about her grandmother.
Today’s thunder had been unusually fierce, but her grandmother was not one to be easily shaken. If the thunder had startled her so severely, it could only mean her health had deteriorated drastically. And in such a short time...
After seeing her young mistress off, Ying Chun affectionately took Chunxiang’s hand and stood with her in the corridor. The open surroundings were perfect for a private conversation. "Don’t keep it hidden any longer. Even the physician will ask when he arrives—surely you won’t hide it from him too? Isn’t the young mistress bound to find out sooner or later? Keeping it secret will only harm Old Madam."
With the young mistress gone, Chunxiang felt much more at ease. The earlier intensity had frightened her. Hearing Ying Chun say that secrecy would harm Old Madam, she could no longer hold back and quickly revealed the situation."When the thunder sounded, Old Madam was taking a nap. She must have been startled—she suddenly sat up then fell back, nearly losing her breath. Then she started coughing, very severely, and... she even coughed up blood. We had to change her handkerchief twice before she finally fainted."
"Old Madam forbade you from coming to find my lady, didn't she?"
"Yes." Chunxiang had thrown caution to the wind, pouring out everything like beans from a bamboo tube. "This isn't the first time Old Madam has coughed up blood. She always strictly forbade us from spreading word about it. This time was no different—it wasn't until Old Madam lost consciousness that Su Momo urgently sent me to find the Eldest Young Lady."
Ying Chun's heart tightened. They had already guessed Old Madam's condition. If anything were to happen to Old Madam, the Hua family...
Ying Chun didn't dare think too deeply about it. It wasn't that she didn't believe her lady could handle it—in this world, she trusted her lady the most—but she could imagine how hard it would be for her lady. Having served her for so many years, she knew all too well how much her lady loved living a carefree, leisurely life.
Now her lady was drifting further and further from that kind of life, let alone the inevitably busier days to come.
Sighing quietly to herself, Ying Chun asked in a low voice, "Chunxiang, would you be willing to work for the Eldest Young Lady?"
Chunxiang wasn't foolish—otherwise she wouldn't have been allowed to serve in Old Madam's chambers. Of course, Ying Chun's proposal tempted her. Serving by Old Madam's side, she knew better than anyone how much the Eldest Young Lady meant to Old Madam. With Old Madam's frail health, who knew when she might... When that time came, the Eldest Young Lady would inevitably become the head of the Hua family.
But she also didn't want to be seen as someone who would betray her master. If she left that impression with a new master, her life would be ruined.
"Sister Ying Chun, I'm not blind to the situation, but I am after all someone from Old Madam's household. If I were to betray my master, where would I stand in the Hua family? I don't want to be that kind of person either."
"I understand your concerns and difficulties. We're not forcing you to become that kind of person either. If we really made you report Old Madam's every move to us, what would that make us?" Ying Chun smiled. "The lady is worried about Old Madam's health, and Old Madam doesn't want the lady to worry about her. When it comes down to it, they're both thinking of each other. I'm not asking you to do anything else—just keep us informed about changes in Old Madam's physical condition, preferably in detail. Miss Shaoyao is very skilled in medicine. Knowing Old Madam's condition promptly will allow her to adjust the prescriptions in time. Isn't that better than Old Madam stubbornly enduring?"
Old Madam wasn't a harsh person, and Chunxiang genuinely wished her well. After some thought, she gritted her teeth and agreed. After all, no one here had ill intentions.
Meanwhile, Hua Zhi had already entered her grandmother's courtyard. Shaoyao had only arrived a step ahead of her and was sitting by the bedside, checking Old Madam's pulse.
Hua Zhi approached, glanced at her grandmother's golden-pale face, then looked away. She couldn't connect this frail old woman with the Madam Hua from two months ago, who still appeared youthful in demeanor and posture. She didn't understand how a person's health could deteriorate so rapidly—as if suddenly hollowed out.
Shaoyao looked up at her friend. "The elderly lady was frightened. It will take quite some time for her to recover. I'll go modify the prescription in a moment."
Hua Zhi nodded. "When will Grandmother wake up?""It's good to be able to sleep a bit longer. You must attend carefully these few nights. Old Madam might be troubled by nightmares—don't rush to wake her, but guide her out of the dream... I'll handle it myself, you wouldn't know how."
Su Momo was only too willing. Ever since Old Madam took Miss Shaoyao's medicine, her coughing had noticeably improved a great deal. Just based on that, she trusted Miss Shaoyao's words.
"Su Momo, please take good care of Grandmother here. I'll first go to Fourth Aunt's place and return shortly."
"Yes, rest assured, Miss."
PS: Planted a small foreshadowing clue—sneaking in hints wherever possible isn't easy... Kongkong actually doesn't update late every day, haha.
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